Watergate Salad Recipe

Watergate salad with cherry on top in a sherbet glass

This light and fluffy Watergate salad is a fresh and fruity rendition of the classic picnic grade recipe that’ll make you famous for your dessert salads.

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword dessert salads, no bake desserts, pistachio fluff recipe

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings servings

Calories 377kcal

Author Kathleen

Ingredients

1 (3.4-ounce) box Instant Pistachio Pudding
1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple drained with 1/2 cup juice reserved
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup pecans Chopped~Divided
1 3/4 cups frozen whipped topping thawed
Maraschino cherries

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, stir together Pistachio pudding (1 box), drained pineapple (1 can), 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice, marshmallows (1 cup), and 1/2 cup pecans.
Fold whipped topping (1 3/4 cups). Cover and refrigerate overnight.
To serve, sprinkle the top of the salad with the remaining cup of pecans and top with a Maraschino cherry.

Notes

Pudding – the recipe won’t work if you make the pudding first. Instead, it is used as an ingredient, pour the powdered pudding mix into the bowl. There’s no milk in the recipe.
Whipped Topping: A.K.A Cool Whip. I’ve used the Kroger brand whipped topping with equally good results as I’ve had with named brand Cool Whip. Be sure to thaw overnight in the fridge for best results.
Pineapple – As you know, there are two types of pineapple in stores. Pineapple can be canned in its own juice or it can be canned in syrup. Steer clear of the pineapple packed in syrup. Not only will you be filling your dessert with useless sugar, but it’ll also turn out way too sweet. Instead, use the pineapple packed in its own juices.
Fresh pineapple doesn’t work in this recipe. Pineapple has enzymes that won’t react well with the whipped topping, and you’ll be left with a soupy mess. Stick with crushed, canned pineapple packed in pineapple juice and you’ll be just fine.
Nuts – you can technically use any type of nuts that you’d like. But I’ve tried a few, including walnuts, and my family didn’t care for it. The taste of the walnuts was too earthy for the salad, and I didn’t find that it was successful. But fresh pecans? Oh, heaven.

Nutrition